Context: India’s plan to expand ethanol blending in petrol beyond the current 19% (E19) to 27–100% is facing significant supply-side, demand-side, and geopolitical headwinds, slowing the rollout of the new ethanol policy. What is Ethanol? It is obtained by feeding various raw materials or agricultural products through fermentation, and ethanol is used as a fuel. Ethanol is renewable fuel as it can be used in the pepping of gasoline, or it can work as an octane enhancer. This is also called grain alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or simply EtOH. These are some applications of ethanol in agriculture: Role of Ethanol in India The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme is a government initiative to increase the amount of ethanol blended with petrol in India: What is Ethanol blending?
Bayer Launches BICOTA to Protect Rice Crops from Stem Borer Pests
Context: Bayer has announced the launch of BICOTA, a new product designed to help rice farmers manage stem borer pests effectively. BICOTA, which combines Bayer’s exclusive innovation to provide strong protection against these damaging pests, will be available across key rice-growing states, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Western UP, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, starting in June 2025. Key Features of BICOTA Significance
Community-Led Seed Ball Plantation for Forest Regeneration in India
Context: India’s forests, long considered the lungs of the nation, are under increasing pressure. Between 2001 and 2023, the country lost a staggering 2.33 million hectares of forest cover due to deforestation. Mineral-rich states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha are most affected due to mining-driven deforestation. Key Initiative: Seed Ball Plantation Role of PRADAN Impact & Progress Collaborative Model Significance: BL
India’s Apparel Export Growth Challenge
Current Status and Challenges Significance of the Textile and Apparel Sector Key Government Initiatives Structural Bottlenecks Policy Recommendations – The Way Forward:
RBI Launches Scheme to Promote Original Hindi Books on Economics, Banking, and Finance
Context: To encourage original Hindi-language writing and research in the fields of economics, banking, and finance by Indian academicians. Key Features of the Scheme Evaluation Process Significance Related Development: This scheme not only supports language diversity in financial education but also fosters an environment for academic innovation i
Banks’ Proposal for Tax Relief on NPA Interest Under Review
Context: The Indian government is reviewing a proposal from banks to amend the Income Tax Act and align the definition and treatment of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) with the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) regulatory norms. This move aims to provide relief from taxation on unrealised interest income. Key Regulatory Divergence Proposed Changes Under Consideration Government Review Process: Current Status of NPAs: Implications if Accepted: BS
RBI Frontloads Monetary Support Amid Uncertainty – Is This the Terminal Rate?
Context: In an effort to anchor economic confidence amid global uncertainties, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), through its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), delivered a bigger-than-expected policy stimulus in June 2025. Key Policy Announcements (June 2025) RBI’s Recent Liquidity Measures Has the RBI Reached the Terminal Rate? Key Arguments Growth Outlook:
RBI’s 2025 Gold and Silver Lending Guidelines
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified the Lending Against Gold and Silver Collateral Directions, 2025, introducing comprehensive reforms to regulate and standardize gold and silver-backed lending across financial institutions. Key Features of the Directions Implications for India’s Lending Ecosystem BS
India Reaffirms Global Leadership in Climate-Resilient Infrastructure at ICDRI 2025
Event Overview About the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) Funding and Support Core Functions of CDRI India’s 5 Global Priorities at ICDRI 2025
DRUM App
About the DRUM App: Core Objective: Key Features of DRUM: Why DRUM Matters:
